Craspedia diversicolor Breitw. & K.A.Ford. (Gnaphalieae): Discovery and conservation management of one of New Zealand’s rarest and most endangered plants

Craspedia diversicolor (Gnaphalieae), a recently described species from the South Island of New Zealand, is characterised by glomerules (pseudocephalia) having florets with a white corolla and dark red-purple anthers, and rosette leaves being variable from olive-green, grey to dark red, with a ver y thin, appressed to flocculent, lanate indumentum.The species was once more widespread in the Canterbur y Plains but is now restricted to Wakanui Gully in Canterbur y on privately owned agricultural land.Only two plants were found recently.After manually cross-pollinating the two plants with a plant we have held in cultivation, we managed to raise 80 seedlings.The majority of those were planted at a reser ve where they have meanwhile flowered and produced seedlings.We hope we have saved Craspedia diversicolor from the immediate threat of extinction.